Air plants are well-known for their capacity to survive on nothing but air. While they do require some supplemental water when kept at home, they do have some extremely remarkable natural adaptations that allow them to get humidity and all of their nutrients directly from the air. This means that Xeros can thrive in drier environments than other air plants you may be familiar with. Misting them a few times a week is all they need for routine upkeep. However, you should give your Xero a thorough drink about once a month. Soak your plant for 2 minutes in lukewarm water, immersing fully. After that, gently shake the plant to remove any water that has accumulated on the leaves.
How do you care for a Xerographica air plant?
Every week or two, submerge your xerographica plant in a basin of water. During the winter, reduce watering to once every three weeks. Shake the plant gently to remove any excess water, then hang it upside-down on an absorbent towel to dry completely. While the plant is drying, keep it out of direct sunlight.
The plant will dry out faster if it is heated or cooled. Keep an eye out for wilted or wrinkled leaves, which indicate that the plant requires a little extra water.
Water your xerographica air plant early in the morning or late in the afternoon to allow the plant to dry. Never water the plant in the middle of the night. Once or twice a week, mist the plant with lukewarm water, or more frequently if the air in your home is too dry.
Take your plant outside during a warm summer shower to give it a treat. This will be much appreciated.
Should I soak my Xerographica?
Instead of being wet, Xerographica air plants should be plunged or sprayed. These plants are xeric, meaning they come from dry areas. These plants can survive more sun and fewer water. We propose soaking a xerographica in a basin or pail of water, then gently shaking it to allow the water to drain from the leaves. Allow to dry upside down to prevent water from becoming caught in the leaves.
The Tillandsia tectorum is an air plant that is distinguished by its densely fuzzy leaves.
How long do Xerographica air plants live?
The Tillandsia Xerographica is a magnificent plant. It has thick, silvery-white leaves that curl beautifully depending on the humidity level in the surroundings. It can thrive for up to 20 years and reach a diameter of three feet before producing a big orange bloom spike. For these and other reasons, it is one of the most sought-after air plant species among both beginners and collectors. Did you realize, though, that it was on the verge of extinction only 25 years ago?
These plants are ready to be future mothers now that they have bloomed. Each Xerographica will produce 2-5 offsets in its lifetime.
The first air plant exporters in Central America gathered tillandsia from the wild in an unregulated commerce. This was not the case with Xerographica. Xerographica was nearly eradicated from its natural habitat in the arid lowland climes of Guatemala and Southern Mexico due to its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in Europe.
After being notified by agricultural officials in the Netherlands about a questionable shipment from Guatemala in 1994, the U.S. government took action.
Where do you put Xerographica?
This big Xerographica Tillandsia in superb condition is a show-stopper houseplant.
To display its unusual leaves and blossoms, place it alone on a table, in a terrarium, or on a desk near a large window.
Take it outside to enjoy the fresh air if the summers are warm enough, and bring it back inside when temps dip below 60° Fahrenheit (16° C).
Why is my Xerographica turning yellow?
Too much light or too much water may be the reason of your air plant’s yellowing. When a plant turns yellow, it is signaling that it needs help. Reduce watering and, if your plant is in direct sunlight, move it to a more shady location.Yellowing can also be caused by over fertilization or copper poisoning. Cold temperatures can also cause yellowing, which will occur before the plant becomes mushy and dies.
Brown spots can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the most common causes of brown spots is exposure to too much sunshine, which causes the plant to become burnt. This can be exacerbated if the plant is damp and exposed to too much direct sunlight. Over fertilization can also create brown spots. Fertilizer has the potential to burn the leaves of your air plant. Brown spots can also be caused by a pest or the plant becoming stressed during transport, especially if it is cold where you live. Finally, brown spots can be a sign of fungus or mold, such as brown leaf spot disease.If this is the case, spot treat with a fungicide formulated for roses that contains no copper and is low in sulfur.
When an air plant blooms, it typically produces a pup or offset. You may see that the mother plant begins to wilt or die, which is quite natural. Some plants produce more pups and may live longer than others, while others may wither away once the pup is old enough to survive on its own. In our post on air plant propagation, we go over pups in greater detail.
While it’s difficult to say without seeing a photo, trichomes are most likely the solution!
Trichomes are small cells on the leaves of tillandsia (air plants) that help collect water and protect them from being burned by sunlight. Some xeric varieties, such as tectorum, have a lot of trichomes, while other mesic varieties, such as bulbosa, have trichomes that are almost unnoticeable.We have several articles to learn more, including All About Trichomes and Trichomes In Depth, which also discusses the CAM
How fast do Xerographica grow?
It can take years for xerographica to develop large enough to produce a bloom and pups. Plants of T. xerographica with a diameter of 4-5 inches might be 3-5 years old! The T. is another slow-growing plant that grows to be quite huge.
How do you know if Xerographica is healthy?
Depending on how humid your home is, you may need to water (and mist) more or less frequently. If your Xero is thirsty, the leaves will curl tightly, indicating that it requires more water. If they start to wrinkle, your air plant is parched! If your Xero’s leaves are extremely straight, you may be overwatering it, which can lead to rot. Simply listen to your plant’s indications and you’ll be able to maintain a proper quantity of water for your leafy pal.
How do you fertilize Xerographica?
We prefer to use a bromeliad fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. Low-nitrogen fertilizers are better for air plants since they promote blooming and counteract Tillandsia output. It’s also critical to utilize a nitrogen fertilizer that isn’t urea-based, as this will supply nitrogen that Tillandsia can use. Urea-based nitrogen is converted to useful form for plants by bacteria in the soil, however Tillandsia are unable to process this type of nitrogen because they are not planted in soil.
How do you save a Xerographica?
It’s not a good idea to overwater air plants. It is the most common cause of death. So, if you notice that their bases are darkening and the leaves are falling out from the middle, or if they have mushy roots and yellowing leaves, you must act quickly to avoid any serious harm. Here’s how to save your dying air plant from being overwatered:
How do you get air plants to bloom?
The wait is finally over! Your air plant has finally bloomed after a lot of love and care! You might wonder how it got to this point, and how I can properly care for my flowering air plant. Maybe you’re still waiting for your Tillandsia to flower and aren’t sure what you can do to speed up the process. This post is for you in either situation.
Let’s start with some basic information on the flowering cycle of air plants. The bloom, as with any flowering plant, signifies the beginning of the reproductive phase in the life cycle of an air plant. Air plants only bloom once in their lifetime, which may surprise you. Tillandsias produce a variety of flowers depending on the species, with many of them producing stunningly colorful blossoms in a range of hues from delicate pinks to blazing reds, as well as vibrant purples and yellows.
Within the Tillandsia realm, there are many different types of blooms. When some plants, such as the capitata peach, begin to blossom, they turn a delicate pink color and blooms emerge from the middle of the plant. Small buds grow from the heart of the plant in other plants like the aeranthros and stricta. The bud eventually expands and opens to show flowers. Some blooms may survive a few days, while others can last weeks.
Some air plants, such as the caput-medusae and the xerographica, have substantially longer bloom cycles than others. These plants produce huge flower tracts known as inflorescence, which can reach a height of over a foot in certain kinds! The blooms on the tract open out and fall out of the inflorescence over time. A bloom tract on some Tillandsias can last up to a year.
You could see some new growth on the side of your air plant after the bloom cycle is finished. These are tiny air plants, often known as offsets or offshoots “Puppies.” These little babies will grow up and become their own people “the “adult” air plant, and the cycle will start all over again! You can snip off the bloom tract that came out of the plant to boost the next stage of growth after the bloom, which will kick start the pup stage! Depending on the air plant species, the air plant will produce one to three pups after blooming. You can either remove the puppies or let them to form a clump once they reach around 1/3 the size of the mother plant.
Most healthy Tillandsias will blossom at some point, but they will need special care and a lot of light to do so. You can boost flowers and pup production by using a diluted fertilizer like our specially designed Air Plant Food once a month or so to help speed up the blooming process.
So, how should a Tillandsia in bloom be cared for? Keep watering and feeding your plant, first and foremost! When watering blooming air plants, however, you’ll want to avoid getting the flower wet, so instead of dunking or soaking the entire plant, we recommend dunking, misting, or holding only the parts of the air plant that allow you to avoid wetting the bloom beneath softly running water. If the bloom is buried in water for an extended period of time, it may rot or wilt. Because all of the plant’s energy is directed into the bloom and, eventually, the puppies, a blooming plant may require a bit more water than usual. Keep an eye on your plant to ensure that it remains happy and healthy!
You might be able to enjoy your own blooms with only a little light, water, and fertilizer! Good luck with your blossoming!
Are you curious as to what will happen next? After the Bloom is the second installment in the blooming series, as well as our essay on Air Plant Propagation.